Introduction
Election Results
PG Spotlight: FAME LAB
Deadlines/Opportunities
Events
News
Hi all!
Congratulations on making it through Second Term! It's been a busy one for the Union and a great one for the PGA. A lot of work has gone into the long term future of the PGA over the last couple of months and I'm proud to announce some great advances.
The PGA was successfully enshrined into UCLU's constitution moments before it was enshrined in the brand new constitution at the General Meeting on the 24th! This means that postgraduate representation is secured for generations of students - a strong step forward.
Many of UCLU's activities now qualify for Roberts Points which will ease postgraduate inclusion in the Union. Please see the website's blog page for details!
And lastly, the PGA has been instrumental in pushing for postgraduate representation in the NUS and on the 2nd of April, I am travelling to Blackpool to push for this again!
Keep your eyes peeled for several great events this upcoming term and
throughout the summer!
As always, if you wish to submit your own events, news or advertisements for housing, etc please send an email to d.hawk@ucl.ac.uk and remember to include important information like dates, times and contact details.
Until next time!
Billy Street
Medical and Postgraduate Students' Officer
Back to top
Election Results:
Last month you voted, now click here for the detailed results and manifestos: http://www.uclunion.org/get-involved/election-results-spring-2009.php.
Congratulations to the newly elected Medical and Postgraduate Students’ Officer, Shawn Williams (current PGA President)! If you wish to get involved with the PGA next year, you may stand in the Autumn elections. Also, please take part in our election survey, whether you voted or not: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=cQg6EzV6vI8fmM_2fTABMRrQ_3d_3d
Back to top
Are you an enthusiast? Are you excited about the research you do? Do you want to talk about it? Then maybe NESTA FameLab (www.famelab.org) is for you.
FameLab is an opportunity for young researchers to compete for fame and fortune. This year there are big money prizes with £10,000 for the winner, £5,000 for the runner-up and £750 for the eight finalists. All the selected finalists will receive professional training at the NESTA FameLab MasterClass weekend and opportunities to launch their science communication careers.
There are now two ways that contestants can apply:
1) By submitting a video entry online. Examples are now viewable on the FameLab YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/famelab
or
2) By coming along to one of our Regional Heats:
Saturday 4 April Manchester Museum of Science and Industry
Saturday 18 April Bristol At-Bristol
Saturday 25 April London Wellcome Collection
Tuesday 28 April Oxford Science Oxford
Saturday 9 May Edinburgh Our Dynamic Earth
Contestants selected from the online videos or the live auditions pass through to the Regional Final, held each evening after the auditions, and if successful will compete in the UK Final at the Cheltenham Science Festival.
Famelab is also online in the following places:
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71763071162
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/NESTAFameLab
Back to top
Last chance to apply for Bionews Internship:
The internships provide an opportunity for Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Law research students interested in science communication and legal/ethical issues arising from scientific developments to gain practical news writing experience under expert supervision.
Full details and registration information can be found on the Graduate School Skills Development Programme website at the following link:
http://www.grad.ucl.ac.uk/courses/course-details.pht?course_ID=1397
Deadline: Friday 3 April, 5pm
Clean Tech Challenge, win £5000
The CleanTech Challenge (CTC) is a new competition jointly hosted by the London Business School and University College London. The mission of the Challenge is to provide a unique platform through which students can bring innovative, clean tech ideas from the concept phase into viable 'seed round' funded proposals.
Submit your name, department, course title, and 200 words proposal to ctc2009@cleantechnologychallenge.com you may get the chance to -Present your ideas to experienced clean tech venture capitalists, investors, and entrepreneurs
- Win a cash prize of £5,000
- Receive mentorship and feedback on your ideas from experienced, clean tech venture capitalists
- Learn more about the available opportunities in the clean tech field
Idea submission deadline: April 19th
£1500 for Public Engagement:
The UCL Public Engagement Unit has re-opened its Beacon Bursary funding scheme, which provides grants of up to £1500 to support UCL staff and students who are involving the public in their work.
If you've got a great idea for a small public engagement project, but you need a little money to get it off the ground, a Beacon Bursary could be just the thing for you. Whether it's an existing project that you want to build on, or something brand new, the UCL Public Engagement Unit would like to hear from you.
To find out how to apply, and for more about the projects we've already funded, visit:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/public-engagement/funding/bursaries
Deadline: 22 April
Sophia Writing Competition
The theme of the writing competition is “The challenge of sustainable city living & the scale of community”
First Prize is £250 and Second Prize is £100
Deadline: 1 May 2009
Submit an informal article (in line with Sophia’s submission guidelines) or creative written work of up to 2500 words drawing inspiration from the above theme. Submissions may or may not include accompanying visual content. We should stress that this is not an essay competition; submissions will be judged on the quality of writing and creativity of response to the theme rather than the most thorough argument.
The competition is dedicated to the memory of Craig Patterson, Founding Director of UCL Grand Challenges, who died in September 2008. The many members of the UCL community who had met him will have been struck by his energy, enthusiasm and pragmatic idealism. He regarded student engagement as essential to the success of the UCL Grand Challenges.
For more information visit http://www.sophiamagazine.co.uk/
In need of a challenge ?
CARA's second Cycle Challenge will take place on Sunday May 31st
2009, clocking up 65 miles from the University of Cambridge to SOAS
in London. The ride will take you through pretty Cambridgeshire,
Essex and Hertfordshire villages along quiet roads and tow paths,
making it an excellent and fun route for all abilities.
The CARA team will provide advice on fundraising, preparation and
training prior to the event and full support will be provided on the day, including bicycle maintenance and on-site medics.
CARA has provided support to persecuted academics for the last 75
years. With your help, CARA can continue to provide practical
support to academics so that they can rebuild their lives and careers
in safety.
For full details and a registration form, please visit the CARA
events web page at www.academic-refugees.org/fundraising.asp.
Contact the ride organiser, Roisin Joyce, with any questions on
development.cara@lsbu.ac.uk or on 0207 902 7703.
Japan Society Fellowship
The Short-Term Award provides the opportunity for pre and post doctoral UK researchers and European and North American researchers based in the UK to visit Japan for 1 to 12 months to undertake cooperative research with leading research groups at Japanese Universities and Institutions. The programme is designed to provide researchers with first-hand experience of the research and living environment in Japan. Eligible research fields are not limited: computer, engineering, health, biological, life, natural and physical sciences, mathematics, humanities and social sciences etc.
The closing date for applications is Monday, 1st June, 2009 and successful applicants are asked to start their fellowship between November 2009 and March 2010.
For further information, click here
Are you a native speaker of a language other than English?
If you are a NATIVE speaker living in London, the UCL Linguistics department may be interested in having you participate in research. You will be paid £10/hr for any research you participate in.
For further information and a registration form, please contact Claire
Scahill: c.scahill@ucl.ac.uk
Back to top
Events:
4 April, 10am-3pm
Wormwood Scrubs Family Fun Day
Volunteer Marshalls are needed to help with the co-ordination of the event. You only need to commit to volunteering for a minimum of one hour, giving you as long as you want to explore the event, or go for a stroll around the scrubs.
For more information contact Fiona at f.addison@ucl.ac.uk
6-8 April & 15-17 April, 1-5pm
‘Easter Egg-Laying Animals’
For the Easter holidays, the Grant Museum is exploring the wonderful world of eggy animals. From penguins to platypuses, sharks to snails and bullfrogs to butterflies, our fantastic specimen-based activities will investigate the best shells and spawn. Come and unscramble our games and whip up some excitement with our amazing animal specimens.
Free, no need to book
21 April, 6:30 pm
The launch of the UCL Urban Laboratory
Ambrose Fleming LT
Free + drinks reception (RSVP to natalie.warner@ucl.ac.uk)
22 April, 4:30-6:30pm
Welcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine
Matters of the Heart, Or Why the Heart Matters: Emotions, the Body and
Medical History’
Dr Fay Bound Alberti (Queen Mary, University of London)
183 Euston Road,
Free
26 April
Volunteer at the London Marathon w/ the British Red Cross
Contact f.addison@ucl.ac.uk for more information
28 April, 1-2pm
Rights and Advice, Exam Advice
Advice on plagiarism, regulations and procedures
South Wing Council Room
Free
As always, UCL Events can be found here: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/events/
Back to top
Is post-study worth the cost?
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/postgraduate/postgraduate-study/do-higher-degrees-really-improve-your-career-prospects-1642621.html
AHRC to fund 6,000 new Masters and PhD places
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=405663&c=1
Beatles’ Fans: Fancy an MA
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/mar/04/beatles-higher-education-liverpool-university
Back to top
Election Results
PG Spotlight: FAME LAB
Deadlines/Opportunities
Events
News
Introduction:
Hi all!
Congratulations on making it through Second Term! It's been a busy one for the Union and a great one for the PGA. A lot of work has gone into the long term future of the PGA over the last couple of months and I'm proud to announce some great advances.
The PGA was successfully enshrined into UCLU's constitution moments before it was enshrined in the brand new constitution at the General Meeting on the 24th! This means that postgraduate representation is secured for generations of students - a strong step forward.
Many of UCLU's activities now qualify for Roberts Points which will ease postgraduate inclusion in the Union. Please see the website's blog page for details!
And lastly, the PGA has been instrumental in pushing for postgraduate representation in the NUS and on the 2nd of April, I am travelling to Blackpool to push for this again!
Keep your eyes peeled for several great events this upcoming term and
throughout the summer!
As always, if you wish to submit your own events, news or advertisements for housing, etc please send an email to d.hawk@ucl.ac.uk and remember to include important information like dates, times and contact details.
Until next time!
Billy Street
Medical and Postgraduate Students' Officer
Back to top
Election Results:
Last month you voted, now click here for the detailed results and manifestos: http://www.uclunion.org/get-involved/election-results-spring-2009.php. Congratulations to the newly elected Medical and Postgraduate Students’ Officer, Shawn Williams (current PGA President)! If you wish to get involved with the PGA next year, you may stand in the Autumn elections. Also, please take part in our election survey, whether you voted or not: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=cQg6EzV6vI8fmM_2fTABMRrQ_3d_3d
Back to top
PG Spotlight: NESTA FameLab 2009…Talking Science
Are you an enthusiast? Are you excited about the research you do? Do you want to talk about it? Then maybe NESTA FameLab (www.famelab.org) is for you.
FameLab is an opportunity for young researchers to compete for fame and fortune. This year there are big money prizes with £10,000 for the winner, £5,000 for the runner-up and £750 for the eight finalists. All the selected finalists will receive professional training at the NESTA FameLab MasterClass weekend and opportunities to launch their science communication careers.
There are now two ways that contestants can apply:
1) By submitting a video entry online. Examples are now viewable on the FameLab YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/famelab
or
2) By coming along to one of our Regional Heats:
Saturday 4 April Manchester Museum of Science and Industry
Saturday 18 April Bristol At-Bristol
Saturday 25 April London Wellcome Collection
Tuesday 28 April Oxford Science Oxford
Saturday 9 May Edinburgh Our Dynamic Earth
Contestants selected from the online videos or the live auditions pass through to the Regional Final, held each evening after the auditions, and if successful will compete in the UK Final at the Cheltenham Science Festival.
Famelab is also online in the following places:
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71763071162
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/NESTAFameLab
Back to top
Deadlines/Opportunities:
Last chance to apply for Bionews Internship:
The internships provide an opportunity for Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Law research students interested in science communication and legal/ethical issues arising from scientific developments to gain practical news writing experience under expert supervision.
Full details and registration information can be found on the Graduate School Skills Development Programme website at the following link:
http://www.grad.ucl.ac.uk/courses/course-details.pht?course_ID=1397
Deadline: Friday 3 April, 5pm
Clean Tech Challenge, win £5000
The CleanTech Challenge (CTC) is a new competition jointly hosted by the London Business School and University College London. The mission of the Challenge is to provide a unique platform through which students can bring innovative, clean tech ideas from the concept phase into viable 'seed round' funded proposals.
Submit your name, department, course title, and 200 words proposal to ctc2009@cleantechnologychallenge.com you may get the chance to -Present your ideas to experienced clean tech venture capitalists, investors, and entrepreneurs
- Win a cash prize of £5,000
- Receive mentorship and feedback on your ideas from experienced, clean tech venture capitalists
- Learn more about the available opportunities in the clean tech field
Idea submission deadline: April 19th
£1500 for Public Engagement:
The UCL Public Engagement Unit has re-opened its Beacon Bursary funding scheme, which provides grants of up to £1500 to support UCL staff and students who are involving the public in their work.
If you've got a great idea for a small public engagement project, but you need a little money to get it off the ground, a Beacon Bursary could be just the thing for you. Whether it's an existing project that you want to build on, or something brand new, the UCL Public Engagement Unit would like to hear from you.
To find out how to apply, and for more about the projects we've already funded, visit:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/public-engagement/funding/bursaries
Deadline: 22 April
Sophia Writing Competition
The theme of the writing competition is “The challenge of sustainable city living & the scale of community”
First Prize is £250 and Second Prize is £100
Deadline: 1 May 2009
Submit an informal article (in line with Sophia’s submission guidelines) or creative written work of up to 2500 words drawing inspiration from the above theme. Submissions may or may not include accompanying visual content. We should stress that this is not an essay competition; submissions will be judged on the quality of writing and creativity of response to the theme rather than the most thorough argument.
The competition is dedicated to the memory of Craig Patterson, Founding Director of UCL Grand Challenges, who died in September 2008. The many members of the UCL community who had met him will have been struck by his energy, enthusiasm and pragmatic idealism. He regarded student engagement as essential to the success of the UCL Grand Challenges.
For more information visit http://www.sophiamagazine.co.uk/
In need of a challenge ?
CARA's second Cycle Challenge will take place on Sunday May 31st
2009, clocking up 65 miles from the University of Cambridge to SOAS
in London. The ride will take you through pretty Cambridgeshire,
Essex and Hertfordshire villages along quiet roads and tow paths,
making it an excellent and fun route for all abilities.
The CARA team will provide advice on fundraising, preparation and
training prior to the event and full support will be provided on the day, including bicycle maintenance and on-site medics.
CARA has provided support to persecuted academics for the last 75
years. With your help, CARA can continue to provide practical
support to academics so that they can rebuild their lives and careers
in safety.
For full details and a registration form, please visit the CARA
events web page at www.academic-refugees.org/fundraising.asp.
Contact the ride organiser, Roisin Joyce, with any questions on
development.cara@lsbu.ac.uk or on 0207 902 7703.
Japan Society Fellowship
The Short-Term Award provides the opportunity for pre and post doctoral UK researchers and European and North American researchers based in the UK to visit Japan for 1 to 12 months to undertake cooperative research with leading research groups at Japanese Universities and Institutions. The programme is designed to provide researchers with first-hand experience of the research and living environment in Japan. Eligible research fields are not limited: computer, engineering, health, biological, life, natural and physical sciences, mathematics, humanities and social sciences etc.
The closing date for applications is Monday, 1st June, 2009 and successful applicants are asked to start their fellowship between November 2009 and March 2010.
For further information, click here
Are you a native speaker of a language other than English?
If you are a NATIVE speaker living in London, the UCL Linguistics department may be interested in having you participate in research. You will be paid £10/hr for any research you participate in.
For further information and a registration form, please contact Claire
Scahill: c.scahill@ucl.ac.uk
Back to top
Events:
4 April, 10am-3pm Wormwood Scrubs Family Fun Day
Volunteer Marshalls are needed to help with the co-ordination of the event. You only need to commit to volunteering for a minimum of one hour, giving you as long as you want to explore the event, or go for a stroll around the scrubs.
For more information contact Fiona at f.addison@ucl.ac.uk
6-8 April & 15-17 April, 1-5pm
‘Easter Egg-Laying Animals’
For the Easter holidays, the Grant Museum is exploring the wonderful world of eggy animals. From penguins to platypuses, sharks to snails and bullfrogs to butterflies, our fantastic specimen-based activities will investigate the best shells and spawn. Come and unscramble our games and whip up some excitement with our amazing animal specimens.
Free, no need to book
21 April, 6:30 pm
The launch of the UCL Urban Laboratory
Ambrose Fleming LT
Free + drinks reception (RSVP to natalie.warner@ucl.ac.uk)
22 April, 4:30-6:30pm
Welcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine
Matters of the Heart, Or Why the Heart Matters: Emotions, the Body and
Medical History’
Dr Fay Bound Alberti (Queen Mary, University of London)
183 Euston Road,
Free
26 April
Volunteer at the London Marathon w/ the British Red Cross
Contact f.addison@ucl.ac.uk for more information
28 April, 1-2pm
Rights and Advice, Exam Advice
Advice on plagiarism, regulations and procedures
South Wing Council Room
Free
As always, UCL Events can be found here: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/events/
Back to top
News:
Is post-study worth the cost?
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/postgraduate/postgraduate-study/do-higher-degrees-really-improve-your-career-prospects-1642621.html
AHRC to fund 6,000 new Masters and PhD places
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=405663&c=1
Beatles’ Fans: Fancy an MA
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/mar/04/beatles-higher-education-liverpool-university
Back to top